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The Farmers Branch City Council discussed potential changes to parking regulations for oversized vehicles and reviewed the city's struggling garage conversion amnesty program during its Dec. 9 study session.
Sam Chavez, director of community services, presented proposed amendments to the code of ordinances that would prohibit oversized vehicles in residential districts based on weight and size limits. The ordinance would also restrict parking or storing vehicles in front, rear or side yards unless concealed from the right of way by a permitted wall, fence or landscaping.
The proposal includes a 12-month grace period for residents to comply. Chavez said the extended timeline recognizes the difficulty of quickly disposing of large vehicles.
"With some of these larger vehicles, it's a little harder than just, okay, I'm going to move them or I'm going to get rid of them," Chavez said, noting residents would need time for sale and deciding what to do with their vehicles.
Council Member Roger Neil suggested adding language to prohibit parking in front yards and raised concerns about temporary situations, such as people who bring boats and RVs home for cleaning or holiday visitors with recreational vehicles.
Mayor Terry Lynne said a task force studying the issue reached consensus that nothing should be allowed in front yards and that residents should have 48 hours to load, unload or clean vehicles without needing a permit.
"There are boats that have been parked in the front yard. I've lived here 26 years. I can show you some homes where they've never moved," Lynne said. "They become part of a fixture of the house or yard art versus something that's used."
Council Member David Reid emphasized the need for consistent enforcement regardless of a vehicle's appearance.
"You have some that look great and then you have some that don't, you know, flat tires, haven't moved in years, type of thing," Reid said. "It needs to be an all or nothing."
Chavez reported that out of 5,800 code cases from Dec. 1, 2023, to Dec. 5, 2024, approximately 63 involved oversized vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds.
The council also received an update on the garage conversion amnesty program, which expires Jan. 31. Of 1,035 single-family homes with unpermitted garage conversions identified by the city, only 128 have achieved compliance, a 13% rate.
After the deadline, noncompliant properties would receive notices of violation. If owners don't comply after 30 days, they could receive summons to appear in court and face fines between $500 and $2,000.
Reid praised the city's extensive outreach efforts, which included English and Spanish flyers mailed with water bills, direct mailings to affected residents, social media posts and hand-delivered notices.
"I have to applaud you and your team for the amount of publicity, notification, everything that you've done regarding this issue," Reid said. "There really is no excuse for the homeowner to not know at this point."
Reid noted that residents who feel overwhelmed by compliance costs may qualify for the city's minor home repair program.
"We have programs in place as well, and correct me if I'm wrong, where we could potentially provide economic assistance if they need to bring some things into order," Reid said.
Lynne suggested sending one final letter to noncompliant property owners before issuing violations. Council Member Elizabeth Villafranca offered to help with outreach, noting many affected residents are in districts one and two and may not know where to start.
"I actually think I know a lot of the people in that district, in district one and two, that probably would qualify that have garages and may just feel overwhelmed and not know where to start," Villafranca said.
Council Member Tina Bennett-Burton asked whether notices were being sent to property owners rather than renters, citing a recent case where communication went to a tenant instead of the landlord. Chavez confirmed notices are sent to property owners.
The council will receive a followup report on the garage conversion program at its first meeting in February.
The council also discussed reactivating the sister city program with potential expansion to Mexico City, South Korea or Taiwan, with estimated costs ranging from $2,088 for Mexico City to $5,500 for Taiwan based on a four-person, 10-day delegation.
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